Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth's population grew in the decade to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in work life, health and religion.

The population passed 97,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Great Yarmouth increased by 7.1%, from about 90,800 to 97,300.

The addition of just under 6,500 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Great Yarmouth was home to, on average, 4 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Great Yarmouth

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Great Yarmouth increased by two years, from 41 to 43 years.

This seaside area had a higher average age than Eastof England and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 3,400 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 2,000.

About 14% of people in Great Yarmouth are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Great Yarmouth by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Great Yarmouth working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15% to 11% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 15% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Great Yarmouth decreased by 4.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Great Yarmouth, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

Great Yarmouth saw Eastof England's second-largest fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad.

In 2011, about 1 in 14 (7.1%) in Great Yarmouth said their health was bad or very bad, compared with 11% in 2001. The percentage that perceived their health as good or very good increased from 63% to 76%.

Across the region, only Norwich saw a greater fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad (from 9.8% to 5.7%).

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across Eastof England saw a fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad, as the regional average fell from 7.6% to 4.7%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Great Yarmouth decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Great Yarmouth, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Great Yarmouth residents that were self-employed increased from 8.2% to 8.3% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in two (49%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 48% in 2001. The percentage of Great Yarmouth residents that were unemployed increased from 5.3% to 6.1%.

The proportion of self-employed people decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across Eastof England. The improvement brought health in Great Yarmouth close to the regional average 11% in Eastof England described their health as good in 2011).

The rate of self-employment was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Great Yarmouth

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 33% said they had no religion. An increase from 18% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Great Yarmouth.

The percentage increased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Great Yarmouth that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 68,000 in 2001 to about 59,000 in 2011 (from 75% to 61%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from about 7,200 to about 7,000 (from 7.9% to 7.2%).

About 520 people (0.3%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 280 in 2001 (0.5%).

The population without a religion in Great Yarmouth increased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Great Yarmouth by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth saw Eastof England's third-largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31%) people aged 16 and over in Great Yarmouth said they were single, compared with 25% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 52% to 47%.

Across the region, only Welwyn Hatfield (from 31% to 39%) and Norwich (from 40% to 47%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

Every local authority area across Eastof England saw a rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership, as the regional average grew from 27% to 31%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

Great Yarmouth saw Eastof England's third-largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.4%) in Great Yarmouth reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.7% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.2% to 1.6%.

Across the region, only Tendring (from 2.8% to 3.5%) and King's Lynn and West Norfolk (from 2.5% to 3.3%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

Every local authority area across Eastof England saw a rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care, as the regional average grew from 1.8% to 2.2%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Great Yarmouth remained close to 3.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Great Yarmouth by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in considerably limiting disability

The percentage of Great Yarmouth residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.9% to 5.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 16 (6.2%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 6.7% in 2001. The percentage of Great Yarmouth residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability in Great Yarmouth increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Great Yarmouth, Eastof England and England that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Great Yarmouth at a faster rate than in Broadland (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Great Yarmouth).

In Great Yarmouth, the proportion of private renting increased from 9.4% in 2001 to 16% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Broadland increased from 6.8% to 10%.

Across Eastof England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in Great Yarmouth fell from 18% to 17%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 70% to 64%.

Private renting in Great Yarmouth increased by 7.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Great Yarmouth, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Great Yarmouth

In 2011, 97% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 99% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Great Yarmouth.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across Eastof England (from 95% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Great Yarmouth from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 430 in 2001 to about 1,200 in 2011 (from 0.5% to 1.2%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 540 to about 1,200 (from 0.6% to 1.2%).

Just under 440 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 140 in 2001 (0.5%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Great Yarmouth decreased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Great Yarmouth by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of one-person households fell in Great Yarmouth, while rising in North East Lincolnshire (one of the most statistically similar areas to Great Yarmouth based on ONS area classifications).

In Great Yarmouth, the proportion came down from 31% in 2001 to 30% in 2011, while across England it went up from 29% to 31%. During the same period, the regional proportion remained close to 28%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Great Yarmouth increased from 9.2% to 11%, while the percentage of households with a married couple decreased from 35% to 31%.

The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Great Yarmouth with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.1% to 9.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage that had at least one dependent child remained close to 28%, while the percentage of households in Great Yarmouth without children decreased from 63% to 62%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 9.3% in 2001 to 9.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

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